Electronic pen and cartridge for electronic pen

ABSTRACT

An electronic pen includes a tubular casing, and a first coupling member and a second coupling member that are coupled to each other in a hollow portion of the casing in an axial direction of the casing. In the axial direction, the first coupling member and the second coupling member are coupled to each other, and in a coupling portion between the first coupling member and the second coupling member, a welded portion that attaches the first coupling member and the second coupling member to each other is formed. The first coupling member is coupled to a core. The second coupling member holds a printed circuit board. The core of the core-side component is made of a conductive material. The second coupling member includes a conductor that supplies, to the core, a signal from a signal transmitting circuit on the printed circuit board with a battery.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an electronic pen and a cartridge foran electronic pen.

Background Art

In recent years, electronic pens have been thinned. Thus, for example,as disclosed in WO2017/010336 (hereinafter, referred to as PatentDocument 1), parts of an electronic pen are arranged to be coupled toeach other in a long-thin tubular casing in the axial direction inrecent years.

In an electromagnetic induction electronic pen disclosed in PatentDocument 1, in a tubular casing, a ferrite core around which a coil iswound, a long-thin printed circuit board having circuit parts mountedthereon, and a pen pressure detecting module are arranged in the axialdirection. In this case, the pen pressure detecting module is placedbetween the ferrite core around which the coil is wound and the printedcircuit board. The ferrite core around which the coil is wound iscoupled to the core side of the pen pressure detecting module, and theprinted circuit board is held on the side opposite to the core side ofthe pen pressure detecting module.

Moreover, in Patent Document 1, the pen pressure detecting module isdivided into two parts in the axial direction: an engaging member insidewhich the ferrite core is coupled and a holder configured to hold theprinted circuit board, and holds a pen pressure detector with theengaging member and the holder coupled to each other. In this case, inPatent Document 1, the engaging member and the holder are made of resin,and one of the components has a fitting protrusion and the other has afitting recessed groove such that the engaging member and the holder canbe fitted and coupled to each other while an inner space for housing thepen pressure detector is secured therebetween. Moreover, when thefitting protrusion and the fitting recessed groove are fitted to eachother while the space for housing the pen pressure detector is secured,the engaging member and the holder are fitted to each other, to therebybe fitted and coupled to each other with the use of the elasticity ofthe resin.

Incidentally, in Patent Document 1, the engaging member and the holderof the pen pressure detecting module are required to be coupled to eachother so as to firmly hold the pen pressure detector without a wobble.This is because, if the pen pressure detector is wobbly, there is a riskthat the pen pressure detector cannot detect pen pressure accurately.

Thus, the fitting protrusion and the fitting recessed groove, which areformed to the engaging member and the holder, are required to be formedinto shapes and dimensions that enable accurate fitting with highprecision. However, it is difficult to form the engaging member and theholder so as to have shapes and dimensions that satisfy the conditions.In particular, since the pen pressure detecting module requires astrength enough to keep the conditions after coupling since the penpressure detecting module receives pen pressure, there is a risk thateven when the conditions are initially satisfied, the pen pressuredetector may become wobbly later.

Accordingly, it is conceivable to firmly couple the engaging member andthe holder to each other with the use of an adhesive in addition tofitting and coupling the components. However, in such a case, adhesiveapplication is required before a first coupling member and a secondcoupling member are fitted and coupled to each other, which requires aneffort. Further, the first coupling member and the second couplingmember are required to be fitted and coupled to each other whileattention is paid such that the adhesive does not adhere to parts notrequiring adhesion, which is burdensome.

Moreover, in a case where a slow-acting adhesive that takes a long timefor adhesive curing is used, the coupling state is required to bemaintained until the adhesive is cured, which is a problem. Further, ina case where a fast-acting adhesive is used, if the adhesive adheres toparts not requiring adhesion when the engaging member and the holder arefitted to each other, fitting is difficult, with the result that fittingis burdensome, which is a problem. Further, in a case where an adhesiveis used, the adhesive leaks out later to inversely affect movement ofthe pen pressure detector in the axial direction, which is a problem.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure has an object to provide an electronic pencapable of solving the problems described above.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the presentdisclosure, there is provided an electronic pen including: a tubularcasing; and a first coupling member and a second coupling member thatare coupled to each other in a hollow portion of the casing in an axialdirection of the casing, in which in the axial direction, the firstcoupling member and the second coupling member are coupled to each otherwhile partially overlapping each other, and in a coupling portionbetween the first coupling member and the second coupling member, awelded portion that attaches the first coupling member and the secondcoupling member to each other is formed.

In the electronic pen of the disclosure having the above-mentionedconfiguration, the first coupling member and the second coupling memberare arranged to be coupled to each other in the hollow portion of thetubular casing in the axial direction. Moreover, the first couplingmember and the second coupling member are coupled to each other whilepartially overlapping each other, and in the coupling portion, which isthe overlapping portion, the welded portion that attaches the componentsto each other is formed.

In this case, the welded portion can be formed through, for example,laser light radiation in a state where the first coupling member and thesecond coupling member are fitted and coupled to each other and anappropriate coupling state is made through adjustment. The componentscan thus be firmly attached to each other while being precisely joinedtogether. This prevents a wobble that occurs later in a case where thefirst coupling member and the second coupling member are only fitted andcoupled to each other.

Further, since no adhesive is used, adhesive application before thefirst coupling member and the second coupling member are fitted andcoupled to each other is not required, with the result that fitting andcoupling is easy and there is no fear that an adhesive leaks out later.In addition, since the process after fitting and coupling is onlygenerating a welded portion, the working process is simple, which issuitable for mass production.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an example of an electronic device withwhich an electronic pen according to a first embodiment of the presentdisclosure is used;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an internalconfiguration example of the electronic pen according to the firstembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are views each illustrating a part of the electronicpen according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C are views each illustrating a pen pressure detectorthat is used in the electronic pen according to the first embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are views each illustrating details of part of theelectronic pen according to the first embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating configuration examples of electroniccircuits of the electronic pen according to the first embodiment of thepresent disclosure and a position detecting device;

FIG. 7A to FIG. 7D are views each illustrating a part of an electronicpen according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of anelectronic circuit of the electronic pen according to the secondembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of anelectronic circuit of a position detecting device that is used togetherwith the electronic pen according to the second embodiment of thepresent disclosure; and

FIG. 10A to FIG. 10C are views illustrating electronic pens according toanother embodiment and a modified example of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION First Embodiment

An electronic pen according to a first embodiment of the presentdisclosure is described with reference to the drawings by taking, as anexample, a case where the electronic pen is an electromagnetic inductionelectronic pen configured to transmit indicated positions to a positiondetecting device through electromagnetic induction.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an example of an electronic device 200that uses an electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment. In this example,the electronic device 200 is a high-function cellular phone terminalincluding a display screen 200D of a display device, for example, aliquid crystal display (LCD), and includes an electromagnetic inductionposition detecting device 202 in the lower portion (rear side) of thedisplay screen 200D.

A casing of the electronic device 200 in this example has a housingrecessed hole 201 for housing the electronic pen 1. A user takes out theelectronic pen 1 housed in the housing recessed hole 201 from theelectronic device 200 as needed, and performs position indicatingoperation on the display screen 200D as an input surface.

In the electronic device 200, when position indicating operation isperformed on the display screen 200D with the electronic pen 1, theposition detecting device 202, which is provided on the rear side of thedisplay screen 200D, detects a position on which operation is made withthe electronic pen 1, and pen pressure, and a microcomputer of theposition detecting device 202 of the electronic device 200 performsdisplay processing depending on the operated position and pen pressureon the display screen 200D.

In the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, in a hollow portion of atubular casing 2 made of resin, for example, a plurality of parts of theelectronic pen 1 are arranged and housed in the axial direction.Moreover, the tubular casing 2 is tapered toward one end and has anopening (not illustrated in FIG. 1) formed in the end portion of thetubular casing 2. A distal end portion 32 of a bar-like core 3, which isdescribed later, is exposed through the opening as a pen point.Moreover, the side opposite to the pen point side of the casing 2 isclosed with a casing cap 21 fitted to the casing 2.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view in which parts of a part groupthat is housed in the casing 2 of the electronic pen 1 are arranged. Asillustrated in FIG. 2, in the hollow portion of the casing 2, in orderfrom the pen point side, the core 3, a coil member 4 through which thecore 3 is inserted, a pen pressure detecting module 5, and a printedcircuit board 6 are arranged in the axial direction of the casing 2. Theprinted circuit board 6 is an example of a circuit board.

The core 3 includes a core main body portion 31 and the distal endportion 32 serving as the pen point. The core 3 is mounted with all theabove-mentioned parts housed in the hollow portion of the casing 2 andthe core main body portion 31 inserted from a pen point-side opening ofthe casing 2 to be engaged with a pusher member 55 that is provided tothe pen pressure detecting module 5 as described later. The core 3 ismade of a hard non-conductive material, for example, resin such aspolycarbonate, a synthetic resin, or an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene(ABS) resin such that the core 3 can transmit pressure (pen pressure)that is applied to the distal end portion 32 to a pen pressure detector53 of the pen pressure detecting module 5. The core 3 is insertable intothe electronic pen 1.

The coil member 4 is a core-side component and includes a coil 41 and amagnetic core around which the coil 41 is wound, which is a ferrite core42 in this example. The ferrite core 42 of the coil member 4 in thisexample has a columnar shape having, at the central axis position, athrough hole 42 a having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter ofthe core main body portion 31 in order that the core main body portion31 of the bar-like core 3 may be inserted through the ferrite core 42.Note that the distal end portion 32 of the core 3 in this example has adiameter slightly larger than the diameter of the core main body portion31.

The pen pressure detecting module 5 in this embodiment is divided intotwo parts in the axial direction and includes a pen pressure detectorholder 51 that is an example of a first coupling member and a circuitconnecting member 52 that is an example of a second coupling member, asillustrated in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 2. Moreover, asdescribed later, with the pen pressure detector holder 51 and thecircuit connecting member 52 fitted and coupled to each other in theaxial direction, in this example, the pen pressure detector 53 includinga plurality of parts can be housed in the pen pressure detecting module5. Note that, in the following description, for the sake of simplicity,the pen pressure detector holder 51 is abbreviated as “holder 51.”

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are views illustrating a state in which the holder51 and the circuit connecting member 52 are fitted and coupled to eachother in the axial direction. The holder 51 and the circuit connectingmember 52 in this example are formed as, for example, injection moldedproducts using an insulating resin that can be welded through laserlight radiation (laser welding). Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 3A andFIG. 3B, the holder 51 and the circuit connecting member 52 are firmlyattached to each other through laser light radiation that makes laserwelding at several points in a portion in which the components fittedand coupled to each other partially overlap each other, as indicated bydotted circles in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B.

In this example, in the coupling portion between the holder 51 and thecircuit connecting member 52, the circuit connecting member 52 ispartially inserted and fitted to the holder 51. In the coupling portion,the holder 51 accommodates the circuit connecting member 52. Thus, theholder 51 is made of a light-transmitting resin through which laserlight passes, and the circuit connecting member 52 is made of alight-absorbing resin that absorbs laser light. In this example, theholder 51 is made of a transparent or translucent resin, and the circuitconnecting member 52 is made of a dark-colored resin.

Note that the holder 51 is not necessarily made of a light-transmittingresin entirely, and it is only necessary that at least the couplingportion to the circuit connecting member 52 be made of alight-transmitting resin. In a similar manner, the circuit connectingmember 52 is not necessarily made of a light-absorbing resin entirely,and it is only necessary that at least the coupling portion to theholder 51 be made of a light-absorbing resin.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the holder 51has a substantially cylindrical shape having a through-hole portion inthe axial direction. Further, the circuit connecting member 52 is formedinto a shape with which, when the circuit connecting member 52 and theholder 51 are fitted and coupled to each other to form the pen pressuredetecting module 5, a whole structure has a substantially cylindricalouter shape as illustrated in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B. In this case, theouter diameter of the holder 51 and the maximum diameter of the circuitconnecting member 52 are equal to each other.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in the axial direction of the casing 2, theholder 51 of the pen pressure detecting module 5 is provided on the coilmember 4 side, while the circuit connecting member 52 is provided on theprinted circuit board 6 side. Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG.3A, and FIG. 3B, a fitting recessed portion 51 a to which the ferritecore 42 is fitted is formed on the coil member 4 side in the axialdirection of the holder 51. To the fitting recessed portion 51 a, theside opposite to the inserting side of the core 3 of the ferrite core 42is fitted, with the result that the coil member 4 is coupled to theholder 51. Moreover, the holder 51 has a recessed groove 51 b formedalong the axial direction such that one end portion 41 a and another endportion 41 b of the coil 41 of the coupled coil member 4 can be extendedto the circuit connecting member 52 without protruding from theside-peripheral surface of the holder 51.

Note that FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are views in which the pen pressuredetecting module 5 is seen from a direction orthogonal to the axialdirection. FIG. 3A is a view in which the pen pressure detecting module5 is seen from a direction in which the recessed groove 51 b is seen atthe center of the holder 51. FIG. 3B is a view in which the pen pressuredetecting module 5 is seen in a state where the state in FIG. 3A isrotated by 180° such that the recessed groove 51 b is positioned on therear side.

The pen pressure detector 53 includes a pressure sensor 54 and thepusher member 55 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The pusher member 55 is apressure transmitting member for transmitting pen pressure (pressure)that is applied to the distal end portion 32 of the core 3 to thepressure sensor 54.

The pressure sensor 54 in this embodiment includes a dielectric 541, aspacer 542, and a conductive elastic body 543 as illustrated in FIG. 2,and FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C.

The dielectric 541 has a substantially disc shape, for example, asillustrated in FIG. 4A. The dielectric 541 has one round surface 541 aand another round surface 541 b opposite to each other, and a roundconductor layer 544 is formed on the one surface 541 a of the dielectric541. The conductor layer 544 is a first electrode of a variablecapacitor including the pressure sensor 54 in this example.

The spacer 542 is made of an insulating material, and is a ring-likethin plate-like body having an outer diameter that is the same as thediameter of the dielectric 541 as illustrated in FIG. 4B.

The conductive elastic body 543 in this example is made of conductiveelastic rubber. The conductive elastic body 543 in this example has, asillustrated in FIG. 4C, a shape in which two protruded portions 543 band 543 c are formed from portions of the periphery of a disc-like thinplate-like body 543 a that are separated from each other by the angle of180°, the disc-like thin plate-like body 543 a having an outer diameterthat is the same as the diameter of the dielectric 541. The spacer 542is, for example, bonded on the disc-like plate-like body 543 a of theconductive elastic body 543 in a state where the outer periphery of thespacer 542 matches the outer periphery of the conductive elastic body543. In the state where the spacer 542 is bonded to the conductiveelastic body 543, the two protruded portions 543 b and 543 c of theconductive elastic body 543 protrude outward from the outer periphery ofthe spacer 542.

The pusher member 55 is made of, for example, resin and has a shellshape that bulges out on the conductive elastic body 543 side like adome as illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B. The pusher member 55in this example has an outer diameter smaller than the diameter of thedielectric 541. Moreover, a recessed hole 55 a is formed on the sideopposite to the conductive elastic body 543 side of the pusher member55. To the recessed hole 55 a, an end portion on the side opposite tothe distal end portion 32 of the core main body portion 31 of the core 3is fitted and inserted.

Moreover, on the surface 541 b side, which is the side opposite to thesurface 541 a on which the conductor layer 544 is formed of thedielectric 541, the conductive elastic body 543 is placed in anoverlapping manner through the spacer 542 such that the conductiveelastic body 543 is pushed by the pusher member 55 through the spacer542 from the side opposite to the dielectric 541 side. The variablecapacitor is formed in this way.

Specifically, the variable capacitor in this example includes the firstelectrode including the conductor layer 544 formed on the one surface541 a of the dielectric 541, and a second electrode including theconductive elastic body 543. In a state where the conductive elasticbody 543 is not pushed by the pusher member 55 (a state where penpressure is not applied), the surface 541 b of the dielectric 541 andthe conductive elastic body 543 have a space corresponding to thethickness of the spacer 542 therebetween. Moreover, when the conductiveelastic body 543 is pushed by the pusher member 55, the conductiveelastic body 543 is brought into contact with the dielectric 541 in anarea depending on the magnitude of the pressing force. This means thatthe capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode ofthe variable capacitor including the pressure sensor 54 in this examplechanges depending on a contact area between the conductive elastic body543 and the dielectric 541 based on pressure (pen pressure) that isapplied to the pusher member 55.

In the holder 51 of the pen pressure detecting module 5, as illustratedin FIG. 2, FIG. 3A, and FIG. 3B, a cylindrical recessed portion 51 c isformed from the substantially central position in the axial direction toan axial end portion position on the circuit connecting member 52 sideof the holder 51. In the recessed portion 51 c, as illustrated in FIG.2, FIG. 3A, and FIG. 3B, the pressure sensor 54 of the pen pressuredetector 53 is housed. A fitting portion 52 a, which is described later,of the circuit connecting member 52 is fitted to the recessed portion 51c as described later. With this, the pressure sensor 54 is sandwiched bythe holder 51 and the circuit connecting member 52 in the axialdirection.

Moreover, in the portion on the side of the coupling portion to the coilmember 4 of the substantially axial central position of the holder 51, arecessed portion 51 d for housing the pusher member 55 is formed so asto partially communicate with the above-mentioned recessed portion 51 c.In order to allow the end portion of the core main body portion 31 ofthe core 3 to be inserted and fitted to the recessed hole 55 a formed inthe pusher member 55 that is housed in the recessed portion 51 d, therecessed portion 51 d spatially communicates with the fitting recessedportion 51 a to which the coil member 4 is fitted as indicated by adotted line in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B.

However, between the end portion (bottom portion) on the coil member 4side of the recessed portion 51 d for housing the pusher member 55 andthe bottom portion of the fitting recessed portion 51 a to which thecoil member 4 is fitted, a step portion 51 e for preventing the pushermember 55 from dropping on the coil member 4 side is formed.

Further, a step portion is formed by the recessed portion 51 c and therecessed portion 51 d. Further, the depth of the recessed portion 51 dto the step portion 51 e in this example is equal to the axial length ofthe pusher member 55. This means that when the pusher member 55 ishoused in the recessed portion 51 d, the distal end of the bulging-outsurface of the shell and the step portion, which is formed by therecessed portion 51 c and the recessed portion 51 d, are positioned onthe same plane, and the pusher member 55 does not protrude toward therecessed portion 51 c in this state.

Moreover, in the side-peripheral surface of the recessed portion 51 c ofthe holder 51, at positions separated from each other by the angle of180°, slit portions 51 f and 51 g are formed along the axial direction.The slit portions 51 f and 51 g have a width slightly larger than thecircumferential width of the protruded portions 543 b and 543 c of theconductive elastic body 543 of the pressure sensor 54 such that theprotruded portions 543 b and 543 c of the conductive elastic body 543are insertable into the slit portions 51 f and 51 g.

This means that, as illustrated in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the conductiveelastic body 543 of the pressure sensor 54 can be housed to the stepportion, which is formed by the recessed portion 51 c and the recessedportion 51 d, in the recessed portion 51 c in a state where the twoprotruded portions 543 b and 543 c are inserted into the slit portions51 f and 51 g.

Next, the configuration of the circuit connecting member 52 that isfitted and coupled to the holder 51 is described. In this embodiment,the circuit connecting member 52 of the pen pressure detecting module 5includes, on the holder 51 side in the axial direction, the cylindricalfitting portion 52 a that is fitted to the recessed portion 51 c of theholder 51, and protrusions 52 b and 52 c that are fitted to the slitportions 51 f and 51 g of the holder 51, as illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG.3A, and FIG. 3B.

Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 5A, andFIG. 5B, the fitting portion 52 a of the circuit connecting member 52has a small-diameter cylindrical shape that is fitted to the recessedportion 51 c of the holder 51. The protrusions 52 b and 52 c are formedalong the axial direction at positions opposite to each other with theangle of 180° on the side-peripheral surface of the fitting portion 52 aso as to radially protrude such that the protrusions 52 b and 52 c arefitted to the slit portions 51 f and 51 g of the holder 51.

The substantially axial central portion of the circuit connecting member52 serves as a large-diameter portion 52 d having a diameter equal tothe outer diameter of the holder 51. The fitting portion 52 a and theprotrusions 52 b and 52 c are formed to protrude from the large-diameterportion 52 d toward the holder 51. The protruding end surfaces of theprotrusions 52 b and 52 c are flush with the large-diameter portion 52d.

On the side opposite to the holder 51 of the large-diameter portion 52d, a holding connection portion 52 e for holding the printed circuitboard 6 is formed. On the holding connection portion 52 e, twoplate-like protruded portions 52 g and 52 h protruding in the axialdirection to sandwich the axial end portion on the core 3 side of theprinted circuit board 6 are provided. The two axial protruded portions52 g and 52 h have opposite planar surfaces separated from each other bythe thickness of the printed circuit board 6, and a recessed groove 52 fis formed as a space between the plane surfaces opposite to each other.

Moreover, on the circuit connecting member 52, as conductivethree-dimensional fine patterns, two line members 521 and 522 forelectrical connection (indicated by diagonal lines in FIG. 2, FIG. 3A,and FIG. 3B for the sake of easy understanding) are formed in the axialdirection from one end to the other end in the axial direction.Specifically, the line members 521 and 522 are formed across the fittingportion 52 a, the large-diameter portion 52 d, and the holdingconnection portion 52 e.

In this case, the two line members 521 and 522 are formed in the circuitconnecting member 52 at angular positions that correspond to anextension direction of the recessed groove 51 b of the holder 51 whenthe protrusions 52 b and 52 c of the circuit connecting member 52 arefitted to the slit portions 51 f and 51 g of the holder 51 asillustrated in FIG. 3A. Specifically, the two line members 521 and 522are formed in the circumferential direction of the circuit connectingmember 52 at angular positions right between the angular positions atwhich the two protrusions 52 b and 52 c are formed. This means that, inthe holding connection portion 52 e, the two line members 521 and 522are only formed on the upper surface of the axial protruded portion 52 gas illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3A.

In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, and FIG. 5Aand FIG. 5B, the two line members 521 and 522 are formed separatelyalong the axial direction of the circuit connecting member 52 at thepositions close to each other in the circumferential direction.Specifically, in this embodiment, the two line members 521 and 522 arecollectively formed along the axial direction at substantially the sameangular position in the circumferential direction of the circuitconnecting member 52. Moreover, the two line members 521 and 522 areformed to be exposed on the axial end surface facing the holder 51 ofthe fitting portion 52 a and the axial end surface facing the printedcircuit board 6 of the protruded portion 52 g of the holding connectionportion 52 e.

In this embodiment, the line members 521 and 522 are integrally formedon the surface of the circuit connecting member 52 as three-dimensionalfine patterns. As a method of forming the two line members 521 and 522on the surface of the circuit connecting member 52 as three-dimensionalfine patterns, for example, Microscopic Integrated Processing Technology(MIPTEC) that has been developed by Panasonic Corporation and is anapplied technology for molded interconnect devices (MIDs) can be used.On the surfaces of the line members 521 and 522, which have been formedas three-dimensional fine patterns, a nickel plating layer is formed anda gold plating layer is further formed thereon in order to facilitateelectrical connection by contacting and soldering.

FIG. 5A is a view illustrating the circuit connecting member 52 seenfrom the holder 51 side in the axial direction, and in particular, is aview illustrating a region around the line members 521 and 522 on theend surface facing the holder 51 of the cylindrical fitting portion 52a. Further, FIG. 5B is a view illustrating the circuit connecting member52 seen from the direction orthogonal to the axial direction, and inparticular, is a view partly illustrating the cylindrical fittingportion 52 a and the large-diameter portion 52 d. Note that, in FIG. 5Aand FIG. 5B, the two line members 521 and 522 of the circuit connectingmember 52 are indicated by diagonal lines for the sake of easyunderstanding.

Further, in FIG. 5B, in order to illustrate an electrical connectionrelation between the two line members 521 and 522 of the circuitconnecting member 52 and the pen pressure detector 53, the pen pressuredetector 53 is also illustrated. Note that the pen pressure detector 53is practically housed in the recessed portion 51 c of the holder 51, andwith the circuit connecting member 52 fitted to the holder 51,electrical connection between the pen pressure detector 53 and the linemembers 521 and 522 of the circuit connecting member 52 is made.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, and FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, on theend surface on the holder 51 side of the fitting portion 52 a of thecircuit connecting member 52, a circular protrusion 52 at that protrudestoward the holder 51 and has a diameter smaller than the diameter of thefitting portion 52 a is formed. The circular protrusion 52 at has anupper end surface being a plane surface. One of the line members 521 and522, which is the line member 521 in this example, is formed to theupper end surface of the circular protrusion 52 at as illustrated inFIG. 5A and FIG. 5B. In this example, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, theline member 521 serves as a circular pattern 521 t on the upper endsurface of the circular protrusion 52 at.

The circular pattern 521 t on the upper end surface of the circularprotrusion 52 at of the line member 521 is brought into contact with andelectrically connected to the conductor layer 544 formed on one surfaceof the dielectric 541 when the circuit connecting member 52 is fitted tothe holder 51 as illustrated in FIG. 5B. That is, in this example, theline member 521 is electrically connected to the first electrode of thevariable capacitor including the pressure sensor 54.

The protrusions 52 b and 52 c, which are formed on the side surface ofthe fitting portion 52 a of the circuit connecting member 52, are formedto protrude on the holder 51 side of the upper end surface of thecircular protrusion 52 at of the fitting portion 52 a as illustrated inFIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, and FIG. 5B. The protrusions 52 b and 52 c protrude onthe holder 51 side of the upper end surface of the circular protrusion52 at of the fitting portion 52 a by a length equal to the total of thethickness of the dielectric 541 and the thickness of the spacer 542 asillustrated in FIG. 5B.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, a ring-like pattern 522 a connectedto the line member 522 is formed around the circular protrusion 52 at inthe fitting portion 52 a. The ring-like pattern 522 a and the circularpattern 521 t of the line member 521 on the upper end surface of thecircular protrusion 52 at are separated from each other in the axialdirection and in the radial direction of the circuit connecting member52 that is orthogonal to the axial direction. With this, the circularpattern 521 t of the line member 521 and the ring-like pattern 522 a ofthe line member 522 are electrically separated from each othersufficiently.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, extended end surfacepatterns 522 b and 522 c are formed from the ring-like pattern 522 a ofthe line member 522 to the inner wall surfaces and the end surfaces onthe holder 51 side of the protrusions 52 b and 52 c. As described above,the protrusions 52 b and 52 c protrude on the holder 51 side of theupper end surface of the circular protrusion 52 at of the fittingportion 52 a by the length equal to the total of the thickness of thedielectric 541 and the thickness of the spacer 542 as illustrated inFIG. 5B. This means that, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, when the circuitconnecting member 52 is fitted to the holder 51, the extended endsurface patterns 522 b and 522 c, which are formed on the distal endsurfaces of the protrusions 52 b and 52 c, are brought into abutmentagainst the protruded portions 543 b and 543 c of the conductive elasticbody 543 of the pressure sensor 54 to be electrically connected thereto.

The line members 521 and 522 in the large-diameter portion 52 d of thecircuit connecting member 52 serve as wide land patterns 521L and 522Las illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 3A, and FIG. 5B. To the land patterns521L and 522L, the one end portion 41 a and the other end portion 41 bof the coil 41 are soldered, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 3A.

Further, the line members 521 and 522 in the plate-like protrudedportion 52 g of the holding connection portion 52 e are extended also tothe axial end surface of the protruded portion 52 g as connectionpatterns 521P and 522P with the printed circuit board 6 as illustratedin FIG. 2 and FIG. 3A.

Conductive patterns 61 and 62 are provided on a circuit componentarrangement surface 6 a side in the longitudinal end portion on thecircuit connecting member 52 side of the printed circuit board 6 asillustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3A. The conductive patterns 61 and 62 areformed to be brought into contact with and electrically connected to theconnection patterns 521P and 522P formed on the end surface of theprotruded portion 52 g of the holding connection portion 52 e of thecircuit connecting member 52 when the end portion of the printed circuitboard 6 is inserted into the recessed groove 52 f of the holdingconnection portion 52 e of the circuit connecting member 52.

On the printed circuit board 6, a capacitor 63 that forms a resonancecircuit together with the coil 41 is provided. The conductive patterns61 and 62 are arranged to be respectively connected to one electrode andthe other electrode of the capacitor 63. Note that, although notillustrated in FIG. 2, necessary electronic parts other than thecapacitor 63 are arranged on the printed circuit board 6.

[Assembly Procedure of Pen Pressure Detecting Module 5]

The holder 51 and the circuit connecting member 52, which are configuredas described above, are fitted and coupled to each other in a statewhere the pen pressure detector 53 is housed in the recessed portion 51c and the recessed portion 51 d of the holder 51. The pen pressuredetecting module 5 can be assembled in this way.

First, the pusher member 55 is inserted into the holder 51 from the sideof the coupling portion to the circuit connecting member 52, to therebybe housed in the recessed portion 51 d through the recessed portion 51c. At this time, the pusher member 55 is engaged with the step portion51 e of the recessed portion 51 d so as not to drop from the holder 51on the side of the coupling portion to the coil member 4.

Next, the conductive elastic body 543 to which the spacer 542 has beenbonded is inserted into the recessed portion 51 c from the side of thecoupling portion to the circuit connecting member 52 to be housedtherein in a state where the side opposite to the surface of theconductive elastic body 543 on which the spacer 542 has been bondedfaces the pusher member 55 and the protruded portions 543 b and 543 c ofthe conductive elastic body 543 are inserted into the slit portions 51 fand 51 g of the holder 51. The conductive elastic body 543 is housed inthe bottom portion of the recessed portion 51 c in a state where thedisc-like plate-like body 543 a is in contact with the distal endsurface of the pusher member 55 as illustrated in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B.

Next, the dielectric 541 is housed in the recessed portion 51 c of theholder 51 in a state where the side opposite to the surface of thedielectric 541 on which the conductor layer 544 has been formed facesthe conductive elastic body 543.

Next, the circuit connecting member 52 is fitted to the holder 51.Specifically, the fitting portion 52 a of the circuit connecting member52 is fitted to the recessed portion 51 c of the holder 51 in a statewhere the protrusions 52 b and 52 c of the circuit connecting member 52are fitted to the slit portions 51 f and 51 g of the holder 51. In thisstate, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, the line members 521 and 522 of thecircuit connecting member 52 are positioned in the region of therecessed groove 51 b of the holder 51 or the vicinity thereof.

In this way, in the state where the holder 51 and the circuit connectingmember 52 are fitted and engaged with each other, the circular pattern521 t of the line member 521 formed on the upper end of the circularprotrusion 52 at of the fitting portion 52 a of the circuit connectingmember 52 is in contact with the conductor layer 544 formed on thedielectric 541 of the pressure sensor 54, with the result that theconductor layer 544 and the line member 521 are electrically connectedto each other. That is, the first electrode of the variable capacitorincluding the pen pressure detector 53 is electrically connected to theline member 521 of the circuit connecting member 52.

Further, the extended end surface patterns 522 b and 522 c, which areformed on the line member 522 on the distal end surfaces of theprotrusions 52 b and 52 c protruding from the fitting portion 52 a ofthe circuit connecting member 52 in the direction orthogonal to theaxial direction, are in contact with the protruded portions 543 b and543 c of the conductive elastic body 543, with the result that theconductive elastic body 543 and the line member 522 are electricallyconnected to each other. That is, the second electrode of the variablecapacitor including the pen pressure detector 53 is electricallyconnected to the line member 522 of the circuit connecting member 52.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the circular pattern 521 t,which is formed on the line member 521 electrically connected to theconductor layer 544 formed on the dielectric 541 of the first electrodeof the variable capacitor, and the ring-like pattern, which is formed onthe line member 522 electrically connected to the conductive elasticbody 543 of the second electrode of the variable capacitor, areelectrically separated from each other sufficiently. In a case whereconductor patterns connected to a first electrode and a second electrodeof a variable capacitor are close to each other, there is a risk thatthe stray capacitance between the patterns may affect the capacitance ofthe variable capacitor. The configuration of this embodiment, however,can prevent such a trouble.

In the state where the holder 51 and the circuit connecting member 52are fitted and engaged with each other in this way, laser welding ismade through laser light radiation at a plurality of positions in thecoupling portion in which the holder 51 and the circuit connectingmember 52 fitted to each other partially overlap each other. In thiscase, at each laser light radiation position in the coupling portionbetween the holder 51 and the circuit connecting member 52, the holder51 and the circuit connecting member 52 are melted to be firmly attachedto each other. The holder 51 and the circuit connecting member 52 arewelded at several points, that is, the holder 51 and the circuitconnecting member 52 are welded in a point region being a small regionirradiated with laser light, with the result that a laser welded portionis formed.

In this embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, in the region of a180-degree range portion in which the recessed groove 51 b of the holder51 is seen at the center in the coupling portion between the holder 51and the circuit connecting member 52, four laser welded portions LZa,LZb, LZc, and LZd are formed at positions that are at each end of therecessed groove 51 b and shifted from the positions at which the linemembers 521 and 522 of the circuit connecting member 52 are present.Specifically, with the laser welded portions LZa, LZb, LZc, and LZdformed at the positions shifted from the positions at which the linemembers 521 and 522 of the circuit connecting member 52 are present, theline members 521 and 522 are not irradiated with laser light. Thisprevents a trouble in that the line member 521 is divided through laserlight radiation on the line member 521, for example.

In this case, when the pen pressure detecting module 5 is seen from theprinted circuit board 6 side, the two laser welded portions LZa and LZbare formed along the recessed groove 51 b (parallel to the recessedgroove 51 b) on the right side of the recessed groove 51 b at the twopositions shifted from each other in the axial direction. The remainingtwo laser welded portions LZc and LZd are formed along the recessedgroove 51 b (parallel to the recessed groove 51 b) on the left side ofthe recessed groove 51 b at the two positions shifted from each other inthe axial direction. This means that the two laser welded portions LZaand LZb and the two laser welded portions LZc and LZd are provided whilebeing separated from each other in a direction intersecting with theaxial direction (the orthogonal direction in this example) across therecessed groove 51 b, specifically, in the circumferential direction ofthe pen pressure detecting module 5.

Moreover, in this example, in the coupling portion between the holder 51and the circuit connecting member 52, in the region of a 180-degreerange portion illustrated in FIG. 3B, which is obtained by rotating thestate in FIG. 3A by 180°, four laser welded portions LZe, LZf, LZg, andLZh are formed at positions shifted from each other in the directionintersecting with the axial direction (the orthogonal direction in thisexample), specifically, in the circumferential direction of the penpressure detecting module 5, and in the axial direction. Of the fourlaser welded portions LZe, LZf, LZg, and LZh, the two laser weldedportions LZe and LZf are formed in parallel to the recessed groove 51 bat the positions shifted from each other in the axial direction.Further, the two laser welded portions LZg and LZh are formed inparallel to the recessed groove 51 b at the positions shifted from eachother in the axial direction. The two laser welded portions LZe and LZfand the two laser welded portions LZg and LZh are provided while beingseparated from each other in the circumferential direction of the penpressure detecting module 5.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the plurality of laser welded portions areformed at the positions opposite to each other in the directionintersecting with the axial direction in the coupling portion betweenthe holder 51 and the circuit connecting member 52. In this example, thetwo laser welded portions LZa and LZb and the two laser welded portionsLZg and LZh are provided at the positions opposite to each other in theradial direction of the pen pressure detecting module 5 (the directionorthogonal to the axial direction). The two laser welded portions LZcand LZd and the two laser welded portions LZe and LZf are provided atthe positions opposite to each other in the radial direction of the penpressure detecting module 5 (the direction orthogonal to the axialdirection).

The pen pressure detecting module 5 is assembled in this way. Next, theferrite core 42 of the coil member 4 is fitted to the fitting recessedportion 51 a of the holder 51. Moreover, the one end portion 41 a andthe other end portion 41 b of the coil 41 of the coil member 4 arehoused in the recessed groove 51 b of the holder 51 and extended to thecircuit connecting member 52. Moreover, the one end portion 41 a and theother end portion 41 b of the coil 41 of the coil member 4 are solderedto the respective land patterns 521L and 522L of the line members 521and 522 of the circuit connecting member 52.

Next, into the recessed groove 52 f between the protruded portions 52 gand 52 h of the holding connection portion 52 e of the circuitconnecting member 52, the longitudinal end portion of the printedcircuit board 6 on which the conductive patterns 61 and 62 have beenformed is inserted. Moreover, the connection patterns 521P and 522P ofthe line members 521 and 522 formed on the end portion of the protrudedportion 52 g of the holding connection portion 52 e of the circuitconnecting member 52 are soldered to the conductive patterns 61 and 62of the printed circuit board 6, to thereby be electrically connectedthereto. The printed circuit board 6 is held by the holding connectionportion 52 e as a result.

In this way, the assembly of the parts that are housed in the electronicpen 1 is complete. The electronic pen module component, which is amodule obtained as a result of completion of the assembly, is housed inthe casing 2 so as not to move in the axial direction with the coilmember 4 side being the pen point side of the casing 2. The sideopposite to the pen point side of the casing 2 is closed by the casingcap 21, for example. Moreover, the core 3 is inserted from the penpoint-side opening of the casing 2. Through the through hole 42 a of theferrite core 42 of the coil member 4, the end portion of the core mainbody portion 31 of the core 3 is press-fitted to the recessed hole 55 aof the pusher member 55 of the pressure sensor 54 of the pen pressuredetecting module 5. The electronic pen 1 is complete in this way.

Note that, in the above description, after the holder 51 and the circuitconnecting member 52 are fitted and coupled to each other, laser weldedportions are formed at a plurality of positions in the coupling portion,and thereafter, the coil member 4 and the printed circuit board 6 arecoupled to the pen pressure detecting module 5. The coil member 4 andthe printed circuit board 6 may, however, be coupled to the pen pressuredetecting module 5 before laser welding.

Further, in the above description, the coil portion is coupled to thepen pressure detecting module 5 and the printed circuit board 6 is thencoupled to the pen pressure detecting module 5, but the printed circuitboard 6 may be coupled first. Alternatively, the coil portion and theprinted circuit board 6 may be simultaneously coupled to the penpressure detecting module 5 if possible.

[Configuration Examples of Electronic Circuits of Electronic Pen 1 andPosition Detecting Device 202]

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating configurations of an electronic circuitof the electronic pen 1 and an electronic circuit of the positiondetecting device 202 that is used together with the electronic pen 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, in the electronic pen 1, the one end portion41 a and the other end portion 41 b of the coil 41 and the capacitor 63are connected to each other through the line members 521 and 522 of thecircuit connecting member 52, to thereby form a parallel resonancecircuit 1R. In addition, since the first electrode and the secondelectrode of a variable capacitor 5C, which includes the pressure sensor54 of the pen pressure detecting module 5, are connected to the landpatterns 521L and 522L of the line members 521 and 522, the variablecapacitor 5C is further connected to the parallel resonance circuit 1R,which includes the coil 41 and the capacitor 63, in parallel.

When pressure (pen pressure) is applied to the distal end portion 32 ofthe core 3, the pusher member 55 pushes the conductive elastic body 543to bring the conductive elastic body 543 into contact with thedielectric 541 through the spacer 542. A contact area between theconductive elastic body 543 and the dielectric 541 depends on pressure(pen pressure) that is applied to the distal end portion 32 of the core3. The capacitance of the variable capacitor 5C depends on a contactarea between the conductive elastic body 543 and the dielectric 541, andthus depends on pressure (pen pressure) that is applied to the distalend portion 32 of the core 3.

The electromagnetic induction position detecting device 202 of thisembodiment transmits a signal to the electronic pen 1 by electromagneticcoupling, and the electronic pen 1 feeds back the signal received fromthe position detecting device 202 through the resonance circuit.

The position detecting device 202 receives the feedback signal from theresonance circuit 1R of the electronic pen 1 by electromagneticcoupling. The position detecting device 202 detects a position on asensor 220 indicated by the electronic pen 1 from a position on thesensor at which the received signal is detected. The position detectingdevice 202 detects a phase change of the signal received from theresonance circuit 1R of the electronic pen 1 by electromagnetic couplingto detect a change in resonance frequency, to thereby detect penpressure applied to the core 3 of the electronic pen 1.

The position detecting device 202 includes the sensor 220 including aposition detecting coil including an X-axis direction loop coil group221 and a Y-axis direction loop coil group 222 stacked. Further, theposition detecting device 202 includes a selection circuit 223 to whichthe X-axis direction loop coil group 221 and the Y-axis direction loopcoil group 222 are connected. The selection circuit 223 successivelyselects one of the two loop coil groups 221 and 222.

Further, the position detecting device 202 includes an oscillator 231, acurrent driver 232, a switching circuit 233, a reception amplifier 234,a position detecting circuit 235, a pen pressure detecting circuit 236,and a control circuit 237. The control circuit 237 includes amicrocomputer. The control circuit 237 controls loop coil selection bythe selection circuit 223 and switching by the switching circuit 233,and controls timing of processing by the position detecting circuit 235and the pen pressure detecting circuit 236.

The oscillator 231 generates an alternate current (AC) signal having afrequency f0. Moreover, the oscillator 231 supplies the generated ACsignal to the current driver 232 and the pen pressure detecting circuit236. The current driver 232 converts the AC signal supplied from theoscillator 231 into current, and sends the current to the switchingcircuit 233. The switching circuit 233 switches, under control by thecontrol circuit 237, a connection destination to which a loop coilselected by the selection circuit 223 is connected (transmission-sideterminal T or reception-side terminal R). Of the connectiondestinations, the current driver 232 is connected to thetransmission-side terminal T, and the reception amplifier 234 isconnected to the reception-side terminal R.

An induced voltage that is generated at the loop coil selected by theselection circuit 223 is sent to the reception amplifier 234 through theselection circuit 223 and the switching circuit 233. The receptionamplifier 234 amplifies the induced voltage supplied from the loop coil,and sends the resultant to the position detecting circuit 235 and thepen pressure detecting circuit 236.

At each loop coil of the X-axis direction loop coil group 221 and theY-axis direction loop coil group 222, an induced voltage is generatedwith a radio wave that is transmitted from the electronic pen 1. Theposition detecting circuit 235 detects an induced voltage generated ateach loop coil, specifically, a received signal, and converts thedetection output signal into a digital signal to output the digitalsignal to the control circuit 237. The control circuit 237 calculates acoordinate value of an indicated position in the X-axis direction andthe Y-axis direction of the electronic pen 1 based on the digital signalfrom the position detecting circuit 235, specifically, the voltage valuelevel of the induced voltage generated at each loop coil.

Meanwhile, the pen pressure detecting circuit 236 synchronously detectsthe output signal from the reception amplifier 234 with the AC signalfrom the oscillator 231 to obtain a signal at a level depending on aphase difference (frequency shift) therebetween, and converts the signaldepending on the phase difference (frequency shift) into a digitalsignal to output the digital signal to the control circuit 237. Thecontrol circuit 237 detects pen pressure applied to the electronic pen 1based on of the level of the digital signal from the pen pressuredetecting circuit 236, specifically, the signal depending on the phasedifference (frequency shift) between the transmitted radio wave and thereceived radio wave.

[Effect of Electronic Pen 1 of First Embodiment]

As described above, according to the electronic pen 1 of theabove-mentioned embodiment, in the pen pressure detecting module 5, theholder 51 and the circuit connecting member 52 are fitted and coupled toeach other while partially overlapping each other, and laser welding isthen made at the coupling portion in which the components partiallyoverlap each other. Consequently, as compared to a case where the holder51 and the circuit connecting member 52 are simply fitted and coupled toeach other, the holder 51 and the circuit connecting member 52 can befirmly coupled to each other.

According to the electronic pen 1 of the above-mentioned embodiment, noadhesive is required, and hence, fitting between the holder 51 and thecircuit connecting member 52 is easy, which facilitates mass production.

Second Embodiment

The electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment described above correspondsto a case where the present disclosure is applied to an electromagneticinduction electronic pen. However, the present disclosure is alsoapplicable to an active electrostatic electronic pen. An electronic pen1A of a second embodiment that corresponds to a case where the presentdisclosure is applied to an active electrostatic electronic pen is nowdescribed with reference to FIG. 7A, and FIG. 7B to FIG. 9.

FIG. 7A is a view illustrating a part of an embodiment of the electronicpen 1A of the second embodiment, and is a sectional view illustrating anexample of the detailed configuration of a coupling portion between acore-side component 7 including a conductive core 3A and a pen pressuredetecting module 5A. FIG. 7B and FIG. 7C are views illustrating anexample of a terminal member 8 for electrical coupling between theconductive core 3A and a signal transmitting circuit formed on a printedcircuit board 6A coupled to and held by a circuit connecting member 52Aof the pen pressure detecting module 5A. FIG. 7B is a plan view of theterminal member 8, and FIG. 7C is a side view of the terminal member 8.In addition, FIG. 7D is a view illustrating a part of the circuitconnecting member 52A of the pen pressure detecting module 5A.

In the description of the second embodiment, the same components as thefirst embodiment described above are denoted by the same referencesymbols, so that detailed description thereof is omitted. Further,components that correspond to the components of the first embodiment buthave slightly different configurations from the first embodiment aredenoted by the same reference symbols with a suffix A.

In the electronic pen 1A of the second embodiment, to the axial penpoint side of a holder 51A of the pen pressure detecting module 5A, thecore-side component 7 including the core 3A made of a conductivematerial and a shielding member 70 is coupled instead of the coil member4 of the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment.

Further, in the electronic pen 1A of the second embodiment, on theprinted circuit board 6A that is coupled to the circuit connectingmember 52A on the side opposite to the axial pen point of the penpressure detecting module 5A, an electronic circuit (not illustrated inFIG. 7D) configured to transmit signals to a position detecting devicethrough the conductive core 3A is mounted.

Moreover, in the pen pressure detecting module 5A of the electronic pen1A of the second embodiment, a component for electrical connectionbetween the core-side component 7 and the printed circuit board 6A isdifferent from that of the pen pressure detecting module 5 of the firstembodiment. The remaining configuration of the pen pressure detectingmodule 5A of the second embodiment is similar to that of the penpressure detecting module 5 of the first embodiment.

The core 3A includes, as illustrated in FIG. 7A, a core main bodyportion 31A made of a conductive material, for example, metal formed tohave a diameter of 1.9 mm, for example. In this embodiment,approximately half on the pen point side of the core main body portion31A is covered with a protective member 32A made of an insulatingmaterial. The protective member 32A has roles of preventing the sensorinput surface of the position detecting device from being damaged and ofincreasing a contact area with the sensor input surface.

As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the shielding member 70 of the core-sidecomponent 7 is made of a conductive material covered with an insulatinglayer.

Moreover, the end portion on the side opposite to the pen point side ofthe shielding member 70 is fitted to a fitting recessed portion 51Aa ofthe holder 51A of the pen pressure detecting module 5A to be held by theholder 51A. However, in the second embodiment, in the bottom portion ofthe fitting recessed portion 51Aa of the holder 51A, the terminal member8 for electrically connecting the conductive core 3A and the electroniccircuit of the printed circuit board 6A to each other is provided asillustrated in FIG. 7A.

The terminal member 8 is made of a conductive member, for example,conductive metal. As illustrated in FIG. 7B, the terminal member 8includes a disc-like plate portion 81 that is placed in the bottomportion of the fitting recessed portion 51Aa of the holder 51A. Asillustrated in FIG. 7A to FIG. 7D, the terminal member 8 includes anexposed portion 82 that is extended along the side wall surface of thefitting recessed portion 51Aa to the outer surface of the holder 51A tobe exposed. In the case of this example, although not illustrated, theexposed portion 82 of the terminal member 8 is placed to be exposed atthe position of the recessed groove 51 b (not illustrated in FIG. 7A toFIG. 7D) of the holder 51A of the pen pressure detecting module 5A.

As illustrated in FIG. 7A to FIG. 7D, at the center of the disc-likeplate portion 81 of the terminal member 8, a recessed hole 81 a havingsubstantially the same diameter as the core main body portion 31A of thecore 3A is formed. The core main body portion 31A of the core 3A is madeto pass through the recessed hole 81 a of the terminal member 8 whilebeing contact therewith, and an end portion 31Aa of the core main bodyportion 31A is then fitted to the recessed hole 55 a of the pushermember 55 of the pen pressure detector 53. Here, the core 3A is pulledwith predetermined force, so that coupling between the core 3A and thepusher member 55 and engagement between the core 3A and the terminalmember 8 are released. As a result, the core 3A can be pulled out. Thatis, the core 3A is replaceable.

As illustrated in FIG. 7D, in the large-diameter portion 52 d of thecircuit connecting member 52A of the pen pressure detecting module 5A ofthe electronic pen 1A of the second embodiment, land patterns 527 and528 are formed in addition to the land patterns 521L and 522L of theline members 521 and 522. In this example, the land patterns 527 and 528are separately formed between the land patterns 521L and 522L so as tobe parallel to the land patterns 521L and 522L as illustrated in FIG.7D.

Moreover, in this example, from the land patterns 527 and 528, extendedpatterns are formed in parallel to the line members 521 and 522 to theend portion of an axial protruded portion 52Ag of the circuit connectingmember 52A. The printed circuit board 6A is inserted into the recessedgroove 52 f between the axial protruded portion 52Ag and the axialprotruded portion 52 h as illustrated in FIG. 7D.

In this embodiment, one end of a lead wire 83 is mounted on the exposedportion 82 of the terminal member 8 by soldering, for example, asillustrated in FIG. 7A. The lead wire 83 is housed in the recessedgroove 51 b of the holder 51A and extended to the land pattern 527 ofthe circuit connecting member 52A, for example. The other end portion ofthe lead wire 83 is soldered to the land pattern 527.

Further, a terminal portion 73 is provided to the shielding member 70 asillustrated in FIG. 7A. Moreover, one end of a lead wire 74 is mountedon the terminal portion 73 by soldering, for example. The lead wire 74is housed in the recessed groove 51 b of the holder 51A and extended tothe land pattern 528 of the circuit connecting member 52A, for example.The other end portion of the lead wire 74 is soldered to the landpattern 528.

Moreover, although not illustrated, to a conductor pattern connected tothe electronic circuit formed on the printed circuit board 6A, the linemembers 521 and 522 and the extended patterns led from the land patterns527 and 528 are soldered. With this, an electronic circuit asillustrated in FIG. 8 is formed in the electronic pen 1A.

Also in the configuration in FIG. 7A, when pen pressure is applied tothe core 3A, with the pen pressure, the pusher member 55 is displaced topush the conductive elastic body 543 toward the dielectric 541 throughthe spacer 542. With this, also in the pen pressure detecting module 5A,the capacitance of the variable capacitor 5C changes depending on penpressure as in the first embodiment.

[Description of Configuration Example of Electronic Circuit ofElectronic Pen 1A of Second Embodiment]

FIG. 8 is a circuit configuration diagram of a signal transmissioncontrol circuit 300 including the electronic circuit of the electronicpen 1A of the second embodiment. Specifically, the signal transmissioncontrol circuit 300 in this example includes a controller 301 and anoscillator circuit 302.

The controller 301 includes, for example, a microprocessor, and is acontrol circuit configured to control operation of the signaltransmission control circuit 300 of the electronic pen 1A. Thecontroller 301 is supplied with a power-supply voltage VDD from abattery 303 that is an example of a driving power supply. The controller301 controls the oscillator circuit 302.

One of the line members 521 and 522 of the circuit connecting member 52Ais connected to the controller 301, and the other is grounded.Specifically, the variable capacitor 5C including the pen pressuredetector 53 is connected to the controller 301. The controller 301monitors the capacitance of the variable capacitor 5C, to thereby detectpen pressure that is applied to the core 3A of the electronic pen 1A. Inthis example, a discharging resistor Rd is connected to the variablecapacitor 5C. The controller 301 detects the capacitance of the variablecapacitor 5C by measuring discharge time required for the variablecapacitor 5C from being in a full charge state to take a predeterminedend-to-end voltage, to thereby detect pen pressure from the detectedcapacitance.

The oscillator circuit 302 generates an AC signal having a predeterminedfrequency and is supplied with the power-supply voltage VDD from thebattery 303. The continuous wave of the AC signal having predeterminedtime from the oscillator circuit 302, specifically, a burst signalserves as a position detecting signal that is sent to a sensor of theposition detecting device.

The controller 301 supplies a control signal (enable signal CT) to anenable terminal EN of the oscillator circuit 302 to turn on or off theoscillator circuit 302, thereby making the oscillator circuit 302generate the burst signal and an amplitude shift keying (ASK) modulationsignal. The oscillator circuit 302 generates an AC signal as anintermittent signal depending on the enable signal CT from thecontroller 301. With this, the oscillator circuit 302 can generate aburst signal and an ASK modulation signal. In this example, thecontroller 301 converts a detected pen pressure value into a digitalsignal and controls the oscillator circuit 302 depending on the digitalsignal, so that the oscillator circuit 302 outputs information on thepen pressure value as an ASK modulation signal.

The output end of the oscillator circuit 302 is connected to theextended pattern of the land pattern 527 of the circuit connectingmember 52A. Specifically, in this embodiment, the output end of theoscillator circuit 302 is connected to the conductive core main bodyportion 31A of the core 3A, and an AC signal from the oscillator circuit302 is sent to the sensor of the position detecting device through theconductive core main body portion 31A of the core 3A. Moreover, in thisexample, the extended pattern of the land pattern 528 of the circuitconnecting member 52A electrically connected to the shielding member 70is grounded as illustrated in FIG. 8.

[Description of Configuration Example of Position Detecting Device ofSecond Embodiment]

An electrostatic position detecting device 400 that is used togetherwith the electronic pen 1A of the second embodiment includes, asillustrated in FIG. 9, a sensor 410 of the position detecting device 400and a pen indication detecting circuit 420 that is connected to thesensor 410.

The sensor 410 is formed by stacking, in order from a lower layer side,a first conductor group including a plurality of first conductorsextended in a crosswise direction (X-axis direction), an insulatinglayer (not illustrated), and a second conductor group including aplurality of first conductors extended in a lengthwise direction (Y-axisdirection).

In this way, the sensor 410 of the position detecting device 400 has aconfiguration that detects a position indicated by the electronic pen 1using the sensor pattern including the first conductor group and thesecond conductor group crossing each other.

In the position detecting device 400 of this embodiment, the sensor 410has a sensor surface (indication input surface) having a sizecorresponding to the size of a display screen of an electronic device,for example, a tablet type information terminal, and includes the firstconductor group and the second conductor group that have opticaltransparency.

The pen indication detecting circuit 420 includes a selection circuit421 serving as an input-output interface with the sensor 410, anamplifier circuit 422, a received signal processing circuit 423, and acontrol circuit 424. The control circuit 424 supplies control signals tothe selection circuit 421 and the received signal processing circuit423.

The selection circuit 421 selects one conductor from each of the firstconductor group and the second conductor group based on the controlsignal from the control circuit 424. The conductors selected by theselection circuit 421 are connected to the amplifier circuit 422, and asignal from the electronic pen 1A is detected by the selected conductorsto be amplified by the amplifier circuit 422. The output of theamplifier circuit 422 is supplied to the received signal processingcircuit 423.

The received signal processing circuit 423 only extracts, from theoutput of the amplifier circuit 422, a frequency component of the signaltransmitted from the electronic pen 1A to detect the extractedcomponent. The received signal processing circuit 423 converts thedetection output into a digital signal to supply the digital signal tothe control circuit 424.

The control circuit 424 calculates a position coordinate on the sensor410 indicated by the electronic pen 1A based on the digital data fromthe received signal processing circuit 423, and outputs the positioncoordinate data to, for example, another processing processor of theelectronic device, which is a tablet type information terminal, forexample. Further, the control circuit 424 detects, as a digital signal,an ASK signal that is sent from the electronic pen 1A successively tothe position indicating signal, to thereby detect pen pressure appliedto the core 3A of the electronic pen 1A.

Another Embodiment or Modified Example

Note that, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment describedabove, the line members 521 and 522 or the land patterns 527 and 528 ofthe circuit connecting member 52 or 52A of the pen pressure detectingmodule 5 or 5A are collectively arranged in one place in thecircumferential direction of the pen pressure detecting module 5 or 5A,one recessed groove 51 b is provided in the axial direction of theholder 51, and the laser welded portions are formed at the positionsother than such components.

However, the line members 521 and 522 or the land patterns 527 and 528of the circuit connecting member 52 or 52A of the pen pressure detectingmodule 5 or 5A are not necessarily collectively arranged in one place inthe circumferential direction of the pen pressure detecting module 5 or5A, and may be arranged at a plurality of locations in thecircumferential direction of the pen pressure detecting module 5 or 5Ain a distributed manner. In such a case, the laser welded portions areformed at positions other than the distributed plurality of locationsand between the plurality of locations.

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B illustrate a pen pressure detecting module of amodified example that is used in the electromagnetic inductionelectronic pen 1 of the first embodiment. In a pen pressure detectingmodule 5B in this example, a holder 51B has individual recessed grooves,namely, a recessed groove 51Bb1 for a line member 521B and a recessedgroove 51Bb2 for a line member 522B. Moreover, in this case, aseparation distance between the recessed groove 51Bb1 and the recessedgroove 51Bb2 in the circumferential direction is a distance that allowslaser welded portions to be formed without affecting the line members521 and 522.

Moreover, in the pen pressure detecting module 5B in this example, asillustrated in FIG. 10A, laser is radiated on a central portion of theseparation distance in the circumferential direction between therecessed groove 51Bb1 and the recessed groove 51Bb2 in a couplingportion between the holder 51B and a circuit connecting member 52B, tothereby form a laser welded portion LZi. Further, as illustrated in FIG.10B, laser is also radiated on the side opposite to the laser weldedportion LZi in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction in thecoupling portion between the holder 51B and the circuit connectingmember 52B, to thereby form a laser welded portion LZj.

Moreover, the one end portion 41 a of the coil 41 of the coil member 4that is fitted to the pen point side of the holder 51B is housed in therecessed groove 51Bb1 to be led to a land pattern 521BL of the linemember 521B, thereby being soldered thereto, for example. Further, theother end portion 41 b of the coil 41 is housed in the recessed groove51Bb2 to be led to a land pattern 522BL of the line member 522B, therebybeing soldered thereto, for example.

In the examples of FIG. 10A to FIG. 10C, by laser welding, the laserwelded portions LZi and LZj are formed at the respective positionsopposite to each other, but a plurality of laser welded portions may beprovided in the axial direction at each of positions opposite to eachother. Further, at each of positions opposite to each other, a pluralityof laser welded portions may be provided in the direction intersectingwith the axial direction, that is, in the circumferential direction. Inthe case where a plurality of laser welded portions are provided in thedirection intersecting with the axial direction, that is, in thecircumferential direction, positions at which the laser welded portionsare provided may not be opposite to each other. In addition, as with thepen pressure detecting module 5 of the first embodiment, a plurality oflaser welded portions may be provided at each of positions opposite toeach other in the axial direction and the direction intersecting withthe axial direction (circumferential direction). Note that the examplesof FIG. 10A to FIG. 10C are also applicable to the electronic pen 1A ofthe second embodiment.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the pen pressure detectingmodule 5, 5A, or 5B to which the coil member 4 or the core-sidecomponent 7 and the printed circuit board 6 or 6A are coupled is housedin the tubular casing 2, to thereby form the electronic pen 1 or 1A.However, the pen pressure detecting module 5, 5A, or 5B to which thecoil member 4 or the core-side component 7 and the printed circuit board6 or 6A are coupled can be housed in a tubular internal casing 9 to forma cartridge for an electronic pen, and the cartridge for an electronicpen can be housed in the casing 2 (external casing) as illustrated inFIG. 10C.

Note that the example of the cartridge for an electronic pen in theexample of FIG. 10C is for the case of the electromagnetic inductionelectronic pen of the first embodiment. The active electrostaticelectronic pen 1A of the second embodiment can, however, take a similarconfiguration including the electronic pen parts housed in the internalcasing. Note that, in the example of the cartridge for an electronic penin the example of FIG. 10C, the coil member 4 is not housed in theinternal casing 9, but the parts including the coil member 4 may behoused in the internal casing 9. In the case of the active electrostaticelectronic pen of the second embodiment, the core-side component 7 maypreferably be housed in the internal casing 9.

Other Modified Examples

Note that, in the examples described above, the first coupling member isthe holder 51, 51A, or 51B of the pen pressure detecting module 5, 5A,or 5B, and the second coupling member is the circuit connecting member52, 52A, or 52B. However, the first coupling member and the secondcoupling member are not limited to members obtained through division ofa pen pressure detecting module into two in the axial direction as inthe examples, and may be any kinds of members that are members of anelectronic pen and coupled to each other in the axial direction.

For example, members of an electronic pen may be two members of a memberincluding a core-side component and a member holding a printed circuitboard, and the two members may be coupled to each other with the memberincluding the core-side component serving as the first coupling memberand the member holding the printed circuit board serving as the secondcoupling member.

Note that, in the examples described above, the pen pressure detectorincludes the dielectric, the spacer, the conductive elastic body, andthe pusher member. However, a unit which houses, as a package component,a pressure-sensitive chip including a micro electro mechanical system(MEMS) element whose capacitance changes depending on applied pressuremay be used as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2013-161307,for example.

Further, the pen pressure detector may have a configuration of avariable inductor instead of a configuration of a variable capacitor.

Further, needless to say, the electronic pen of the present disclosureis applicable to a device not having a pen pressure detecting function.

Further, the welded portions, which are formed in the coupling portionbetween the first coupling member and the second coupling member bylaser welding in the embodiments described above, may be formed byanother welding method. For example, the welded portions may be formedby thermal welding. In short, in the present disclosure, it is onlynecessary that after the first coupling member and the second couplingmember are fitted and coupled to each other, the coupling portion bewelded by an external stimulus.

It is to be noted that the embodiments of the present disclosure are notlimited to the foregoing embodiments, and that various changes can bemade without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic pen, comprising: a tubular casing;and a first coupling member and a second coupling member that arecoupled to each other in a hollow portion of the casing in an axialdirection of the casing, wherein: in the axial direction, the firstcoupling member and the second coupling member are coupled to each otherwhile partially overlapping each other, in a coupling portion betweenthe first coupling member and the second coupling member, a weldedportion that attaches the first coupling member and the second couplingmember to each other is formed, the first coupling member is coupled toa core-side component including a core on a side opposite to a side onwhich the first coupling member is coupled to the second coupling memberin the axial direction, the second coupling member holds a printedcircuit board on a side opposite to a side on which the second couplingmember is coupled to the first coupling member in the axial direction,the core of the core-side component is made of a conductive material,and the second coupling member includes a conductor that supplies, tothe core, a signal from a signal transmitting circuit on the printedcircuit board with a battery.
 2. The electronic pen according to claim1, wherein: the welded portion includes a plurality of welded portionsformed at plurality of positions in a direction intersecting the axialdirection in the coupling portion between the first coupling member andthe second coupling member.
 3. The electronic pen according to claim 2,wherein: the welded portions are formed at positions opposite to eachother in the direction intersecting the axial direction in the couplingportion between the first coupling member and the second couplingmember.
 4. The electronic pen according to claim 1, wherein: the weldedportion includes a plurality of welded portions formed along the axialdirection in the coupling portion between the first coupling member andthe second coupling member.
 5. The electronic pen according to claim 1,wherein: in the coupling portion between the first coupling member andthe second coupling member, inside a first one of the first couplingmember and the second coupling member, a second one of the firstcoupling member and the second coupling member is fitted in the axialdirection, the first one of the first coupling member and the secondcoupling member is different from the second one of the first couplingmember and the second coupling, and the first one of the first couplingmember and the second coupling member is made of a light-transmittingresin that enables welding with laser light, and the second one of thefirst coupling member and the second coupling member is made of alight-absorbing resin.
 6. The electronic pen according to claim 5,wherein: the first one of the first coupling member and the secondcoupling member is made of a transparent or translucent resin, and thesecond one of the first coupling member and the second coupling memberis made of a colored resin.
 7. The electronic pen according to claim 1,further comprising: a pen pressure detector that is held between thefirst coupling member and the second coupling member in the axialdirection.
 8. The electronic pen according to claim 7, wherein: thesecond coupling member includes a conductor that electrically connectsthe pen pressure detector and an electronic circuit formed on theprinted circuit board.
 9. The electronic pen according to claim 7,wherein: the pen pressure detector includes: a dielectric; and a firstelectrode; and a second electrode, the dielectric being interposedbetween the first electrode and the second electrode in the axialdirection, and a capacitance between the first electrode and the secondelectrode changes depending on a pressure that is applied to the core.10. The electronic pen according to claim 1, wherein: in the secondcoupling member, a line portion that electrically connects a componentheld by at least the first coupling member or the second couplingmember, and the printed circuit board, is provided, and the weldedportion is formed at a position other than the line portion.
 11. Theelectronic pen according to claim 10, wherein: the line portion isformed in the axial direction, and the welded portion is formed at aposition that is parallel to the line portion.
 12. The electronic penaccording to claim 10, wherein: the line portion includes a plurality ofline portions collectively formed in the axial direction, and the weldedportion includes a plurality of welded portions formed on two sides ofthe plurality of line portions collectively arranged, in parallel withthe plurality of line portions.
 13. An electronic pen comprising: atubular casing; and a first coupling member and a second coupling memberthat are coupled to each other in a hollow portion of the casing in anaxial direction of the casing, wherein: in the axial direction, thefirst coupling member and the second coupling member are coupled to eachother while partially overlapping each other, in a coupling portionbetween the first coupling member and the second coupling member, awelded portion that attaches the first coupling member and the secondcoupling member to each other is formed, the first coupling member iscoupled to a core-side component including a core on a side opposite toa side on which the first coupling member is coupled to the secondcoupling member in the axial direction, the second coupling member holdsa printed circuit board on a side opposite to a side on which the secondcoupling member is coupled to the first coupling member in the axialdirection, the core-side component includes the core and a coil woundaround a magnetic core having a through hole through which the core isinserted, and the second coupling member includes a conductor thatelectrically connects the coil and a capacitor placed on the printedcircuit board with a battery to each other, and forms a resonancecircuit.
 14. An electronic pen comprising: a tubular casing; a firstcoupling member and a second coupling member that are coupled to eachother in a hollow portion of the casing in an axial direction of thecasing; and a pen pressure detector that is held between the firstcoupling member and the second coupling member in the axial direction,wherein: in the axial direction, the first coupling member and thesecond coupling member are coupled to each other while partiallyoverlapping each other, in a coupling portion between the first couplingmember and the second coupling member, a welded portion that attachesthe first coupling member and the second coupling member to each otheris formed, the pen pressure detector includes: a dielectric; and a firstelectrode; and a second electrode, the dielectric being interposedbetween the first electrode and the second electrode in the axialdirection, and a capacitance between the first electrode and the secondelectrode changes depending on a pressure that is applied to the core,on an end surface of a side of the second coupling member that faces thefirst coupling member, a first conductor is disposed, the firstconductor contacting and electrically connecting a first one of thefirst electrode and the second electrode that is on a side of thedielectric that faces the second coupling member, and a second conductoris disposed, the second conductor contacting and electrically connectinga second one of the first electrode and the second electrode that is ona side opposite to the side of the dielectric that faces the secondcoupling member, at a position shifted from a position of the firstconductor in the axial direction and a direction orthogonal to the axialdirection, the first one of the first coupling member and the secondcoupling member being different from the second one of the firstcoupling member and the second coupling, and on the second couplingmember, a first line portion and a second line portion that connect thefirst conductor and the second conductor to a printed circuit board witha battery are formed.
 15. The electronic pen according to claim 14,wherein: the first coupling member and the second coupling member arecoupled to each other when the first one of the first coupling memberand the second coupling member is fitted to the second one of the firstcoupling member and the second coupling member, and the pen pressuredetector abuts the second coupling member in the axial direction, andelectrically couples to a conductor.